Ithaca Energy Inc., a wholly owned Canadian subsidiary of Delek Group Ltd., Herzlia, Israel, will become operator of the Alon D exploration license offshore Israel under an agreement with Noble Energy Mediterranean Ltd.
Noble, the current operator with a 47.059% interest, is withdrawing from the license.
The Alon D block is immediately east of Noble’s Karish natural gas discovery on a block now operated by a subsidiary of Energean Oil & Gas PLC, London (OGJ Online, May 23, 2013).
Delek Drilling LP holds a 52.941% interest in the Alon D license.
Under the new agreement, interests will be Delek Drilling, 75%, and Ithaca Energy, 25%.
Delek Group said it approached “several potential operators” that showed no interest in the role.
